A Penguin Story
Edna the penguin only knows the three colors that surround her: white ice, black night, and blue sea. She is convinced there is something more out there. So she sets out on a quest—a quest for color. When she finally finds what she's been looking for, it's everything she hoped for and more. But that doesn't mean she will ever stop looking.
Reviews
"This gentle tribute to dreamers crackles with quiet humor, and the art's limited palette both parallels the plot and lends the book a classic feel. Portis's ability to convey emotion and character through the slightest change in Edna's beady eyes and flippers is extraordinary, and the interplay of the text and pictures nears perfection. A delightful story, delightfully told."
—School Library Journal, Starred Review.
"Beautifully designed pages are filled with bold geometric shapes depicting the Antarctic landscapes and the few inhabitants. Uncluttered, stylized illustrations featuring a palette limited to the colors mentioned in the story perfectly catch the droll humor of the simple text. This is sure to provoke many chuckles.
— Booklist
“Portis’s optimistic message of the promise the world offers will resonate with youngsters on the cusp of their own life discoveries.”
—Horn Book
“Portis’s genius is a comic genius…her drawings are full of secret jokes. The book itself never stops playing and surprising. Not an inch of the book or an element of design goes to waste.”
—Boston Globe
“Part of what makes her books so brilliant are their pairing of pure lines and fine storytelling….an intelligent use of color to support the story is paired with small touching details that buoy it along. …Seemingly simple, surprisingly well thought out.”
—A Fuse #8 Production
Honors
• A New York Times Best Illustrated Book 2009
• School Library Guild Selection
• Society of Illustrators Original Art show 2009
• Parent & Child Magazine’s best books
• San Francisco Chronicle Best Illustrated Book
• Nick Jr. Magazine Best Illustrated Book
• Bank Street College Irma Simonton Black Award Finalist 2009
• Banks Street College Best Children’s Books of the Year
• Zena Sutherland Award for Literature Winner, Best Overall 2010
• Huffington Post Christmas Gifts 2009: Best Children’s Picture Books of the Year
Editions
US, Korea, Japan, France, Brazil, China
